Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros Prediction: Should We Bank on Runs to Be Put Up on the Board?

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros Prediction: Should We Bank on Runs to Be Put Up on the Board?

The Toronto Blue Jays are currently 13-7 and now have a home series against the Houston Astros, who are 10-9. The Astros haven't peaked just yet but the Blue Jays know just how good the Astros are going to be this season.

It's early in the season but this series is going to share a lot of info about where each team is right now in terms of MLB Power Rankings. Here are our picks, predictions, and odds for Friday's game between the Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays.

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Blue Jays vs. Astros Start Time and Where to Watch

• Date: April 29, 2022
• Game Time: 7:07 pm ET
• Where to Watch: SNET/ATTH

Click Here for Blue Jays vs Astros Odds

Blue Jays vs. Astros Injury Report

Blue Jays

Questionable: 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Foot)

Out: OF Teoscar Hernandez (Oblique), C Danny Jansen (Oblique), 3B Cavan Biggio (Illness)

Astros

Out: 2B Jose Altuve (Hamstring), OF Jake Meyers (Shoulder)

Blue Jays vs. Astros Total Runs Movement

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros Prediction

Tonight's pitching matchup features two pitchers that have struggled to start the year. The Astros will send out Jose Urquidy who has a 5.52 ERA while the Blue Jays will pitch Yusei Kikuchi who has a 3.75 ERA with no runs to his record.

Urquidy has a 6.29 xFIP to start the season with just 11.3% strikeouts. Fortunately for him, he's limited the walks but he hasn't been able to limit right-handed batters.

Righties are hitting a .409 wOBA and ISO of .278 in 39 plate appearances against Urquidy. He'll have to go up against righties like George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. That's not going to be an easy task for Urquidy. The Blue Jays have a lot of power against righties and could absolutely use it against Urquidy.

On the other hand, Kikuchi might have a 3.75 ERA but he also has a 6.52 xFIP with 15.8% strikeouts and 17.5% walks. That means he's walked more than struck out this season. The left-hander has been rocked by righties, allowing a .386 wOBA and ISO of .212 against 43 righties.

Even lefties have a .308 ISO against Kikuchi. The Astros lineup hasn't been flashy this season but they've got six righties in the lineup and three lefties that have real power against other lefties dating back to last season.

Therefore, I like the over 4.5 in the first five innings between these two teams. Neither pitcher is going to escape with five quality innings looking at these types of numbers against righties.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros Pick

• Over 4.5 F5 (-105) (Bet $105 to Win $100)

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